Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 122: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment her proposals to make it mandatory for all employers to have appropriate personal insurance cover for all of their employees; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17385/09]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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Employers are responsible for the health and safety of their employees while they are at work. Employers' liability insurance enables employers meet the cost of compensation for employee injuries or illnesses, which occur while employees are working for an employer. While employer liability insurance is not compulsory under Irish law, surveys carried out in respect of employers' liability and public liability insurance indicate that approximately 90% of companies were covered either by commercial or self-insurance.

The introduction of a statutory requirement for companies to have certain minimum levels of insurance cover in place would represent a radical departure from current practice. I believe that any such proposal would need very careful consideration and would involve detailed consultation both across Government and with a range of key stakeholders. Currently, I do not have nor am I aware of any proposals regarding the introduction of compulsory employers' liability insurance.